Jen Stark: Construction Paper Sculpture

Fun for Friday: check out the work of Jen Stark, who makes amazing sculptures using layers of cut construction paper. [via BoingBoing]

What makes a great photo?

Wary of giving his own answer as some sort of solo authority, Joerg Colberg polled his photographer and photoblogger friends to find out what makes a great photo. [via kottke, who considers it "a great informal discussion about art, photography, and curating."]

Letterpress video: Firefly Press

"Letterpress puts a bite into the paper," says John Kristensen, proprietor of Boston-based Firefly Press. This short video showcases the art of letterpress, including some cool technical jargon. [via Coudal Partners]

Olimpia Zagnoli

Design-illustration hybrid art from Olimpia Zagnoli. Pictured: Cancer and Virgo from her series of astrological symbols. [via Drawn!]

Tufte Article, Courses

This article in Stanford magazine showcases Edward Tufte (a Stanford alum). "I don’t want to sound too majestic, but my books are forever knowledge. People will be reading them a long time from now.” [via 37signals]

Tufte will be back in the NYC area in late April giving his course—the fee includes a day of Tufte and all four of his books. Online registration is available.

Katinka Matson's Flower Scans

Katinka Matson creates amazing flower portraits—not by painting or photographing them, but by scanning them. [via BoingBoing]

Life size Blue Whale Online

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society have put a life size blue whale online (complete with underwater sound effects). Working with a thumbnail, you can move over the body of the 180 ton giant. Now, my question is, why don't we designers do stuff like this more often? A huge version of a design project would allow online viewers to interact with the work in a way that almost overcomes the distancing factor of a screen, to get up close and personal, to see texture, tiny flaws of personality, fine print... Anyone know of any design-related big projects conceptually similar to the whale? I'd love to know about them. [via Inky Circus—Anne's right, the whale does have an oddly calming effect]

Springwise: product publishing, wine icons

Springwise highlights two odd yet interesting ideas that are happening on beverage bottles. The first is the magazine on a bottle, which Coca-Cola Belgium will be testing on the girls market in April. Yep, a mini-magazine right on your Diet Coke. The second is Wine That Loves, a line of wines put out by the Amazing Food Wine Company. Stripping away all pretense of oenophila, the icons on the labels tell you simply that the wine "loves" pizza, or fish, or pasta.

Bembo's Zoo

A bit of midweek fun: check out deVicq de Cumptich's Bembo's Zoo, where animals magically assemble out of Bembo letterforms.
[via swissmiss]

Geo+Info Cards

A postcard set specifically designed for the sharing of geographic information, each Geo+Info card contains a series of questions about your environment. "Through the use of observation, sketching and a bit of research, people can send a snapshot of their current environment and culture across the globe." Why not put some fun and visually appealing science into your correspondence? [thanks Alex!]

UPDATE: These cards are a featured item in the Coudal Swap Meat.

Eatliz: Attractive

Currently being passed around as a fun distraction: Yuval and Merav Nathan's animated music video for the song Attractive by Eatliz. Cute, cool and imaginative, with a nod to Greek mythology, the visuals include a leaning oceanside metropolis, a xylophone of fish, and a corrugated cyclops. [via Coudal Partners]

Baroque Borders

Designfruit has just released a set of ornamental seamless vector borders for use in print and web design. The borders, which each include a left and a right ending piece, are for use with Adobe Illustrator and are priced at $30. [via HOW]

Coudal Partners Swap Meat

Want to boost visibility for your independent projects and possibly get something cool in return? During March and April Coudal Partners is having a Swap Meat:
"Send us some of your stuff. Not stuff you made for clients or stuff you just have laying around. Send us some of the stuff you made for yourselves, that you're selling or giving away. We'll check out what you send and then send you back some stuff of approximately equal value. That might be stuff we received from someone else or some of our stuff, or some combination of the two."

The Limits of Multitasking

Boing Boing spotlights an article in the New York Times that examines the benefits and limits of multitasking (something most everyone does at work, especially designers). After years of training myself to do several things at once (mentally or physically), and in today's climate of everyday technical distraction (the inbox is noisily filling even as we speak), trying not to multitask seems the greater challenge...

Bubble Bath NYC

Fun for tomorrow: On Saturday, March 24th, at high noon, Bubble Bath takes over Union Square. A public art project tied into the thesis project of SVA student Anthony DeFranco, it's basically an invite for anyone and everyone to come blow bubbles. DeFranco is giving out 400 bottles of bubbles—this promises to be quite a spectacle! [via HOW]

UPDATE 3/27: Photos from the event are available via the Village Voice and on Flickr.

Techo Tuesday

More fun for Friday: Techno Tuesday, a weekly comic by Andy Rementer, deals with technology and the modern world. [via Drawn!]

Graphic Design Rap

Fun for Friday: York College student Katie Sekelsky has written a rap about graphic design. Sample lyrics: "So don't be a pretender or I'll kick your ascender and if you have to resize it you best proportionize it." Sure, it's amateurish as all hell, but give it a chance and it'll make you smile. Plus, if you can do better, she's open to remixes. [via DO]

19 Things NOT To Do When Building a Website

19 Things NOT To Do When Building a Website is a bit of an obnoxious rant from webmaster Josiah Cole, but worth a read. If you work in web already, none of this will be new, but if you're a designer who is a web novice, there are some good points. What surprises me most about these designers is that they ask for and implement things that they themselves find annoying as personal users (popups, resizing, etc.). An article like Cole's is useful for non-tech readers in that it establishes a connection between the designer and the developer—both parties can and should be interested in accessible design and smooth user interface. I do disagree with Cole's #6, however. There is no reason that traditional print designers cannot learn to be good designers for the web, as long as they recognize and respect that they're working within a separate genre where different design and production rules apply. [via Subtraction]

Are Designers The Enemy Of Design?

Are Designers The Enemy of Design?, an article by Business Week's Bruce Nussbaum, deals with the backlash against design, sustainability in design, and the shifts in meaning and practice that are occurring and need to occur across industries. Very interesting. [via 37signals]

If You Can Read This, You're Hired

London design firm Lunar BBDO put up posters advertising design positions... and set the text of the ads entirely in a blend of dingbats. "It seemed appropriate that we should make the ad type-based, so we asked ourselves what would appeal to the best typographers in the world." While there is a legitimacy issue involved with basing design and typography skills on what is basically codebreaking ability (not to mention the question of whether good typography involves dingbats at all), the ads were meant in geeky fun and Lunar found some like-minded hires. [via Coudal Partners]

SXSW Sketched

As a charming alternative to the hundreds of SXSW photos that have flooded the web, Subtraction's Khoi Vinh offers his SXSW sketches.

Creative Group 2007 Salary Guide

The Creative Group has issued their 2007 salary guide. There is a number to call for your free copy, though all circuits have been busy, so email may be your best bet. [via Be A Design Group]

UPDATE 3/22: I've received my copy of the guide and it contains some very interesting information. For example: 76% of advertising and marketing firms say they'll be adding graphic design positions within the next 12 months.

Plastic Army Men

Speak Up's Armin Vit muses on plastic army men, calling them a "rare breed of visual icon"... who even have their own typeface!

Highrise

Highrise, the latest release from the crack team at 37signals, is an online contact manager. What a great tool for freelancers and small studios—keep track of who you talked to or emailed with, what was said, set reminders for upcoming conversations, tasks, follow ups and thank yous. Best of all, like their other excellent online products Basecamp and Backpack, there is a free limited account option, giving you no reason not to try it out.

Monster House

More fun for Friday: I was unexpectedly charmed by Monster House, recently released on DVD. Perhaps low expectations had something to do with it (I was anticipating yet another Pixar-wannabe computer animated disaster), but I found myself engaged and surprised by the twists of warped and wonderful imagination throughout. The special features were also great—a full exploration of the motion capture technique used to create the animation, and a showcase of the beautiful concept illustrations by Chris Appelhans (which can be viewed on Appelhans' site). Watch the Monster House trailer (which doesn't really do the bizarre factor of the film justice).

Princes & Crows: Alix Soubiran

Fun for Friday: Princes & Crows, a series of wonderland portraits by artist Alix Soubiran, is on now through April 15th at the New General Catalog gallery in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. [via Gridskipper, who overheard this excellent comment: "Any painting that combines a rooster, a banjo, a tambourine-playing raccoon, and an Aunt Jemima coffee mug is a timeless classic in my book."]

The Episodic Nature of Thought

The Episodic Nature of Thought, described as a multimedia exploration of the nature of human thought and memory, was created by Max Kaplan during a graphic design portfolio class at SVA. An interesting examination of process—check it out. [via JS]

Behind the Screen

Now on at the Museum of the Moving Image: Behind the Screen, an exhibition that examines the art of "producing, marketing, and exhibiting the moving image, with more than a thousand film and television artifacts, computer-based interactive experiences, commissioned installations, audio-visual materials, and demonstrations of professional equipment and techniques." Or, in short form: "This interactive exhibit shows how moving images are created." [via the Village Voice]

AIGA Body/Language

On Saturday, March 24th, the AIGA presents Body/Language: Fashion Meets Graphic Design. The day will include presentations, short films and slideshows by a great lineup of speakers that includes Abbot Miller and Isaac Mizrahi. Advance registration (and the chance at a cheaper ticket) ends on Wednesday. [cheers to Sari]

Newspapers: Best Front Design

Best Front Design selects a newspaper cover each day and gives a brief summary of why the design is working. The archive runs down—most recent papers are at the bottom. [via 37signals]

Heatherwick Studio

Some interesting ideas happening at London's Heatherwick Studio. My favorites: the Sitooterie (a small Scottish building in which to literally "sit oot") and the Rolling Bridge, which curls up like a rolypoly (watch the video). The studio, established by designer Thomas Heatherwick, specializes in architecture, sculpture, urban infrastructure, product design, exhibition design and strategic thinking. [thanks Ching!]

Typographic Ambigram Doormat

The ambigram on this doormat gives you the option of welcoming or shunning visitors. A product of SuckUK, makers of all sorts of fun things. For more on ambigrams, see this previous post. [via Uncrate]

Typography School

Omair Barkatulla's short film Typography School quietly presents the conflicting views about letterpress vs. digital photography at the London College of Printing. [via DesignbyOK]

300 triumphs at the box office

Surprising everyone, 300 opened over the weekend to astounding ticket sales—the third largest ever for an R-rated film! Though the film, which is based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, is getting scathing reviews from many critics, clearly the masses want a visual adventure.

BBC America gets a new icon

Brand New examines the redesigned identity of BBC America, who have put a spin on the bull's eye roundel used by everyone from the RAF to The Who. Success is debated in the comments.

Are we still graphic?

In an article on Industrial Brand Creative's blog, Mark Busse argues in favor of dropping the "graphic" from graphic design and embracing the label communication designer instead. Evolving roles, evolving titles—"The term communication design deliberately emphasizes readability (function) first and aesthetics (form) second.” The comments reveal that not everyone agrees... [via Quipsologies]

Amy Jean Porter: All Species, All The Time

More animal-related fun for Friday: Amy Jean Porter has an extensive portfolio of animal illustrations, all done in surprising palettes and with an addicting juvenility... sort of like a tropical natural history catalog from the 70s. Charming. [via Design*Sponge]

SubmarineChannel: Film Titles

SubmarineChannel has started an online collection of film titles. Potentially a great resource, already lots of fun. [thanks Alex!]

An Open Letter to the AIGA

I do love a good debate about the AIGA. In an open letter to AIGA Executive Director Richard Grefé, David Stairs of Design-Altruism-Project asks if "an organization hell-bent on extending its own brand penetration by perpetuating capitalist standards of professional practice seriously claim to partner efforts to promote design 'to improve life for people everywhere?'" Some interesting comments accompany the letter. [via DO]

25 Best Movie Posters Ever?

What a strange list. Premiere Magazine (soon to be a web-only publication) throws up its votes for the 25 Best Movie Posters Ever. The best ever is too bold a claim, but it's a nice selection of classic posters. [via Quipsologies, where the quipper pointed out that "I can't help but think a design magazine would choose a different 25."]

A City on Paper: Saul Steinberg's New York

The work of celebrated artist Saul Steinberg is showing at the Museum of the City of New York through March 25th. Steinberg's drawings are shown in combination with a selection of related objects from the Museum (maps, aerial views, postcards, posters). On March 21st, in connection with the Steinberg show, Steven Heller, Maira Kalman and others will come together for Who Draws New York?, where they'll create their own interpretations of the city and discuss the "challenges and joys of capturing New York on paper." [thanks Sari!]

Random Acts of Designess

BrandBoggler is embarking on a mission of Random Acts of "Designess"—he's going to select good causes and offer some unsolicited pro bono design work. A CommArts article about issue-driven design points out that these types of projects can be "both inspiring and complex", while debate abounds online about things like tax details and the overall advantages of spec and pro bono work, especially with regards to portfolio building. BrandBoggler will track the project as it progresses, and it will be interesting to see how things develop and how he navigates the potentially tangled specifics.

Best Rejected Advertising

Best Rejected Advertising is a fascinating site explaining international ads that were rejected, banned, spoofed, and controversial. Some of the reasoning may surprise you. [via Coudal Partners]

Start Here Linkable Notebooks

The web has been all a-buzz for these linkable notebooks from Start Here studio. They'd be brilliant for the office or for classes... but I enjoy the ritual of buying a new Moleskine sketchbook too much to use these for illustration. I'm curious to see this in person (they're only available online at the moment).

Online version of Photoshop

Adobe is planning on releasing an online version of Photoshop later this year. "It’s the illustrators and visual creatives who stand to benefit the most. I can’t count the times I’ve been on a remote terminal without Photoshop and felt completely useless as I tried to resize my image in MS Paint or whatever was at hand," says Drawn!'s Matt Forsythe.

Using Flickr as a portfolio option

I'm constantly delighted by the ways people are managing to showcase their work online for little to no expense. Take Artist Ken Steacy, who is using Flickr as a portfolio site. And why not? He's making Flickr's pleasant and streamlined interface work in his favor, and he's smartly kept his account strictly professional (no personal snaps). These days an online presence is essential—gallery sites like Flickr provide an easy and (more than) affordable option (while you're still planning out that oh-so-amazing Flash portfolio site and trying to talk your tech friends into building it for free).

Adobe CS3 is on the way

Adobe Creative Suite 3 will release at the end this month. Details are apparently confidential until March 27th, but this teaser video popped up yesterday on a UK site. Hint: the six colors are supposed to be the six programs in the suite.

Jorge Colombo: The Dailies

From 1999 to 2003, artist Jorge Colombo made wonderful little drawings of New Yorkers in a series he called The Dailies. His storefront series is also cool. [via Subtraction]

Sex May Not Sell Afterall

An article in the Economist takes on a golden advertising mantra by citing studies that reveal that sex may not sell afterall—have we finally become oversaturated? [via InkyCircus]

Children of Men Media Content

London studio Foreign Office designed a range of media content for Children of Men, the current Alfonso Cuarón film that is set in a not-so-distant future. Content includes ads, video and propaganda. [via kottke]

The 8 types of bad creative critics

More fun for Friday: haven't we all known at least one of these... and occasionally been one of these, too? The 8 types of bad creative critics.

Alex Hedley and Chris Lensch

Fun for Friday: check out the animal illustrations of artists Alex Hedley and Chris Lensch. Both do other things (Hedley has a design portfolio, Lensch paints), but I think their zoological stuff has the most personality. [Hedley via Print & Pattern, Lensch via Drawn!]

Happy Cog redesigns AIGA

The AIGA has a nicely redesigned website, all clean coherence, courtesy of Jeffrey Zeldman and his trusty Happy Cog team. More info is available on zeldman.com.

Neo-Mickey

Matthew Cruickshank and Barry Baker have re-imagined Mickey Mouse (with Disney's blessing). I think it's both a brilliant reworking of an icon but also slightly too cold, too slick. Mickey's original mouse voice was indeed annoying, but silent Mickey doesn't seem quite right either, especially when the new kawaii version is crying out for the occasional giggle. [via BoingBoing]

Redesigned Alphabet

37signals spotlights Alphabet 26, the late Bradbury Thompson’s radical proposal for the redesign of the alphabet. After watching his young son stumble over the difference between the upper and lowercase versions of the same graphic symbol (the letter R), Thompson selected the "best" letters to create a consolidated alphabet of 26 symbols without case variation, arguing that "A graphic symbol, or for that matter any trademark worth its salt, to be efficient, should be constant.” Don't miss the spirited comment session, where the advantages and problems Thompson's idea are being discussed at length.

I (as in Identity)

The design word for March over at Speak up is I.